FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU Horned Frogs returned the favor Saturday as they scored seven runs over the final two innings to even the series with an 11-4 victory over New Mexico. Jason Coats put the capper on the night with a three-run blast in the eighth.

Matt Purke improved to 4-1 after allowing a pair of runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He fanned seven, walked two and hit four batters in the victory. Trent Appleby gave up two runs on four hits in two innings of work. Andrew Mitchell struck out a key batter to end the inning before giving way to Tony Rizzotti, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Frogs added to their lead with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Davy Wright led off the third with a base hit and scored on a ground out off the bat of Featherston. Brett Johnson grounded out to drive in Josh Elander with the Frogs' third run of the game in the fourth. An error to open the fifth proved costly as Wright scored on a two-out wild pitch to give TCU a 4-0 lead.

New Mexico began to inch its way back into the game as the Lobos pushed across a pair of runs in the sixth inning to cut the lead in half, 4-2. With two on and one out, Quay Grant drove in the first run of the game for New Mexico, but was erased trying to go to second on the throw home.

Two more hit batters loaded the bases. Ben Woodchick reached on an infield single to drive in the second run. Appleby closed the door, getting Alex Allbritton to fly out to end the inning.

TCU got the runs back in the bottom of the seventh to regain the four-run lead. With two outs, Featherston started a rally with a base hit up the middle. Jason Coats followed with an infield single. The third baseman attempted to get Coats at first, but threw the ball away allowing Featherston to score and Coats to move to second. Elander singled through the left side to make it a 6-2 game.

The Lobos responded with two runs of their own in the top of the eighth to get back within two. Jacob Nelson doubled in the first run of the inning and scored on a double by Sam Wilson.

A five-run outburst in the bottom of the inning put to rest any comeback thoughts. Jimmie Pharr was hit by the pitch with one out and stole second. Rivera worked a walk and both runners scored on a triple to right off the bat of Witte. Featherston was plunked to put runners on the corners and Coats unloaded with a line-drive home run to left to make it an 11-4 contest.

TCU improves to 21-10 on the season and 6-2 in conference play. The Frogs will go for the series win Sunday afternoon at Lupton Stadium. Steven Maxwell will make the start for the Frogs. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

Game Notes:
 Jason Coats extended his season-long hitting streak to 11 games. He finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
 Jantzen Witte's hitting streak reached eight games. Witte was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and two RBIs.
 Matt Purke tallied his 20th career win in a TCU uniform. He is 20-1 in his career with the Horned Frogs.
 Andrew Mitchell has gone 9 1/3 innings without allowing a run over the last five appearances. He lowered his league-leading ERA to 0.52 in 34 1/3 innings pitched.

Postgame Quotes:
TCU Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle
On the win:
"Well I wish we had scored more than one run in those first four or five innings, but with the conditions being the way they are you have to take what you can get. I thought Matt Purke was good early but hit a wall for some reason. Trent Appleby had to overcome some things but made the pitches he needed to make. Andrew Mitchell got the big out and hopefully having scored those five runs late will save Mitchell for tomorrow. Tony Rizzotti started showing some velocity, which is good because it is in there and we need to develop some confidence and get him going."

TCU Pitcher Andrew Mitchell
On how much he likes the closer's spot:
"I love it. It gives me an opportunity to pitch in more games; I still get to pitch the way I want too but in shorter increments. I never really did this in high school, just relieved a little bit during my sophomore and junior year."

TCU Outfielder Jason Coats
On his three run home run:
"He threw a slightly above belt high fastball right down the middle. It was one of the few pitches I got to hit today. The first couple of at bats today I was swinging at their pitches, but I settled down at the end of the game and waited for my pitch to hit."